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Quickstart
Welcome to Claude Code!
This quickstart guide will have you using AI-powered coding assistance in just a few minutes. By the end, you'll understand how to use Claude Code for common development tasks.
Before you begin
Make sure you have:
- A terminal or command prompt open
- A code project to work with
- A Claude.ai (recommended) or Claude Console account
Step 1: Install Claude Code
NPM Install
If you have Node.js 18 or newer installed:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Native Install
Alternatively, try our new native install, now in beta.Homebrew (macOS, Linux):
brew install --cask claude-code
macOS, Linux, WSL:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows PowerShell:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Windows CMD:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
Step 2: Log in to your account
Claude Code requires an account to use. When you start an interactive session with the claude command, you'll need to log in:
claude
# You'll be prompted to log in on first use
/login
# Follow the prompts to log in with your account
You can log in using either account type:
- Claude.ai (subscription plans - recommended)
- Claude Console (API access with pre-paid credits)
Once logged in, your credentials are stored and you won't need to log in again.
When you first authenticate Claude Code with your Claude Console account, a workspace called "Claude Code" is automatically created for you. This workspace provides centralized cost tracking and management for all Claude Code usage in your organization. You can have both account types under the same email address. If you need to log in again or switch accounts, use the `/login` command within Claude Code.Step 3: Start your first session
Open your terminal in any project directory and start Claude Code:
cd /path/to/your/project
claude
You'll see the Claude Code welcome screen with your session information, recent conversations, and latest updates. Type /help for available commands or /resume to continue a previous conversation.
Step 4: Ask your first question
Let's start with understanding your codebase. Try one of these commands:
> what does this project do?
Claude will analyze your files and provide a summary. You can also ask more specific questions:
> what technologies does this project use?
> where is the main entry point?
> explain the folder structure
You can also ask Claude about its own capabilities:
> what can Claude Code do?
> how do I use slash commands in Claude Code?
> can Claude Code work with Docker?
Step 5: Make your first code change
Now let's make Claude Code do some actual coding. Try a simple task:
> add a hello world function to the main file
Claude Code will:
- Find the appropriate file
- Show you the proposed changes
- Ask for your approval
- Make the edit
Step 6: Use Git with Claude Code
Claude Code makes Git operations conversational:
> what files have I changed?
> commit my changes with a descriptive message
You can also prompt for more complex Git operations:
> create a new branch called feature/quickstart
> show me the last 5 commits
> help me resolve merge conflicts
Step 7: Fix a bug or add a feature
Claude is proficient at debugging and feature implementation.
Describe what you want in natural language:
> add input validation to the user registration form
Or fix existing issues:
> there's a bug where users can submit empty forms - fix it
Claude Code will:
- Locate the relevant code
- Understand the context
- Implement a solution
- Run tests if available
Step 8: Test out other common workflows
There are a number of ways to work with Claude:
Refactor code
> refactor the authentication module to use async/await instead of callbacks
Write tests
> write unit tests for the calculator functions
Update documentation
> update the README with installation instructions
Code review
> review my changes and suggest improvements
Essential commands
Here are the most important commands for daily use:
| Command | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
claude |
Start interactive mode | claude |
claude "task" |
Run a one-time task | claude "fix the build error" |
claude -p "query" |
Run one-off query, then exit | claude -p "explain this function" |
claude -c |
Continue most recent conversation | claude -c |
claude -r |
Resume a previous conversation | claude -r |
claude commit |
Create a Git commit | claude commit |
/clear |
Clear conversation history | > /clear |
/help |
Show available commands | > /help |
exit or Ctrl+C |
Exit Claude Code | > exit |
See the CLI reference for a complete list of commands.
Pro tips for beginners
Instead of: "fix the bug"Try: "fix the login bug where users see a blank screen after entering wrong credentials"
```
> 1. create a new database table for user profiles
```
```
> 2. create an API endpoint to get and update user profiles
```
```
> 3. build a webpage that allows users to see and edit their information
```
```
> analyze the database schema
```
```
> build a dashboard showing products that are most frequently returned by our UK customers
```
What's next?
Now that you've learned the basics, explore more advanced features:
Step-by-step guides for common tasks Master all commands and options Customize Claude Code for your workflowGetting help
- In Claude Code: Type
/helpor ask "how do I..." - Documentation: You're here! Browse other guides
- Community: Join our Discord for tips and support